SAAMI Hybrid Hunting, 7mm 168gr

the definition Beck gave for the new elite hunter hybrid is pretty much exactly what you just gave for the classics. Are they the same, ie both hybrids with a tangent/secant combo but the classics are tied to SAAMI specs but the elites are allowed to be longer to gain as much BC as possible? Both have hunting jackets though right?

Scot,

We are sorting through a bit of confusion and I apologize for any miscommunications. Both the Classic Hunter and the Elite Hunter are bullets made with Hybrid nose shapes and hunting jackets. The difference between the designs is the overall length of the noses.

All Classic Hunter bullets are designed with nose lengths that comply with SAAMI standards which means that if you seat them to a SAAMI COAL you will have bearing surface in front of (or above) the neck of the case. Being able to do this is what allows them to function well and shoot well out of a magazine.

It is important to keep in mind that you can seat any bullet to SAAMI COAL so that it will feed in a magazine. The problem you run into with our other long nose bullets is that the nose is so long that the nose portion of the bullet is below the neck of the case when seated to SAAMI COAL.

This creates accuracy issues since so much of the bullet is in the case. Another problem you have with this situation is the very long jump that is common if you are using a SAAMI length chamber. Those with custom rifles can have custom chambers (if they request them) and either longer than standard magazine boxes or single feed their ammo. This overcomes the difficulties with long nose bullets.

All the Elite Hunter bullets are long nosed Hybrid design bullets. If you seat these bullets to SAAMI COAL you will have a portion of the nose in the neck of the case. These bullets are better for custom rifles with longer than standard magazine boxes or are single fed. You can use a SAAMI chamber with long nosed bullets since the bearing surface is typically shorter allowing the bullet to seat further out before it touches the rifling. However, many custom rifles use customized chamber dimensions.

The Elite Hunter bullets are the same shape as our Hybrid Target bullets. The difference is that they are made with hunting jackets rather than the thicker target jacket. As I mentioned earlier, only the 338 cal 250 gr and 300 gr Elite Hunter bullets are available now. The rest of this line is planned to be released in 2013 (not sure when exactly).

Clear as mud?
Eric

__________________
To strengthen your shooting skills go to the range.
To strengthen the shooting sports take a non-shooter with you.

We are sorting through a bit of confusion and I apologize for any miscommunications. Both the Classic Hunter and the Elite Hunter are bullets made with Hybrid nose shapes and hunting jackets. The difference between the designs is the overall length of the noses.

All Classic Hunter bullets are designed with nose lengths that comply with SAAMI standards which means that if you seat them to a SAAMI COAL you will have bearing surface in front of (or above) the neck of the case. Being able to do this is what allows them to function well and shoot well out of a magazine.

It is important to keep in mind that you can seat any bullet to SAAMI COAL so that it will feed in a magazine. The problem you run into with our other long nose bullets is that the nose is so long that the nose portion of the bullet is below the neck of the case when seated to SAAMI COAL.

This creates accuracy issues since so much of the bullet is in the case. Another problem you have with this situation is the very long jump that is common if you are using a SAAMI length chamber. Those with custom rifles can have custom chambers (if they request them) and either longer than standard magazine boxes or single feed their ammo. This overcomes the difficulties with long nose bullets.

All the Elite Hunter bullets are long nosed Hybrid design bullets. If you seat these bullets to SAAMI COAL you will have a portion of the nose in the neck of the case. These bullets are better for custom rifles with longer than standard magazine boxes or are single fed. You can use a SAAMI chamber with long nosed bullets since the bearing surface is typically shorter allowing the bullet to seat further out before it touches the rifling. However, many custom rifles use customized chamber dimensions.

The Elite Hunter bullets are the same shape as our Hybrid Target bullets. The difference is that they are made with hunting jackets rather than the thicker target jacket. As I mentioned earlier, only the 338 cal 250 gr and 300 gr Elite Hunter bullets are available now. The rest of this line is planned to be released in 2013 (not sure when exactly).

Clear as mud?
Eric

I think I got it! Thanks for the clarification.

Do you know what calibers and weights are going to be released for the Elite Hunter line in 2013? I am sure 30 is in there but would love to see 6.5 as well!

Eric hopefully you can chime in on this subject, but if I was going to go from shooting the 168VLD in a 7WSM to shooting the 168 grain Classic Hunters, should I be able to use the same load with the 168 Classic Hunter bullet? (I realize that it is probably best to lower the charge a few grains and work my way back up, but I would be using the same brass, primer and powder, H1000).

Eric hopefully you can chime in on this subject, but if I was going to go from shooting the 168VLD in a 7WSM to shooting the 168 grain Classic Hunters, should I be able to use the same load with the 168 Classic Hunter bullet? (I realize that it is probably best to lower the charge a few grains and work my way back up, but I would be using the same brass, primer and powder, H1000).

I never tried the VLD's but I'm sure curios if these 2 bullets are interchangeable, I mean literally swap one bullet out for the other without changing the load.

__________________
Keep in mind the animals we shoot for food and display are not bullet proof. Contrary to popular belief, they bleed and die just like they did a hundred years ago. Being competent with a given rifle is far more important than impressive ballistics and poor shootability. High velocity misses never put a steak in the freezer.